B.A.P.S.
A film review by Frank Ochieng
Copyright 1997 Frank Ochieng
starring: Halle Berry, Natalie Desselle, Martin Landau, Ian Richardson directed by: Robert Townsend
Actor-director-writer Robert Townsend first made a big splash with his lampoon hit HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE several years back. Of course this film showcased satirical bits about how Hollywood has ridiculously portrayed black folks in Tinseltown over the decades. You name it and Townsend cleverly spoofed it: black pimps, hookers, drug addicts, gang members, etc. HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE was a breakthrough hit because...well, it was funny, revealing, and sadly true. Now with Townsend's latest film B.A.P.S, one wonders whether or not Townsend got the message of his own treasured HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE because BAPS (black American princesses) looks like it stems from one of those sorrowful "SHUFFLE" skits. Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle ("SET IT OFF") play two black Southern girlfriends who travel to California in order to appear in a music video. What appears so unusual about these boisterous black "soul sisters" is that they are so loud and obnoxious in their gigantic blonde wigs, gold teeth, five inch finger- nails, and tight-fitting clothing that one would think these two fashion delinquents mugged RuPaul on the way to their audition. Because of some rather awkward circumstances, the two fearless fashion plates end up staying with a dying wealthy white millionaire (Martin Landau) and his stuffy and sensible butler (Ian Richardson) only to start enjoying the plush life that these two "fish-out-of-water" never experienced back in Decatur, Georgia. Soon the film resorts to the degrading trials and tribulations by having these two sassy sweethearts "conform" within the realm of wealth and its wonder. Who will get their comeuppance? Will it be the B.A.P.S or the rich establishment that judges them? Better yet, maybe these Georgia gals can bring some understanding and insight to the folks outside their world. Or maybe I should begin by proclaiming BAPS as the first major flop of the 1997 movie season? B.A.P.S is an insufferable, hackeyed embarassment of a movie. Its vapid approach to showing these loud uninteresting dressed-up dimwit dolls in this wasted comedy of errors is too much to say the least. Halle Berry's movie career hasn't exactly been fireworks as of lately (witness her in the lame RICH MAN'S WIFE for example) and Natalie Desselle has the dubious task (besides being in this movie) as portraying the rotund and ridiculous BAP, especially in comparison to Berry's svelte self. And one has to wonder why in the world is Academy Award winning Martin Landau doing in such a drawback of a movie? He simply stands around looking like a fossil who recently escaped from the local museum archive. And I'm sure BAPS is a long haul from the coveted halls of the BBC for Ian Richardson. The only thing Townsend accomplished by assembling B.A.P.S was to show that he had a big budget to work with, hence the casting of Landau and Richardson. Otherwise, this film has no direction or redeeming qualities other than being offensive, aimless, and having its young black female leads all dressed up in silly garb with no place to go. But there is a place to go---out the exit doors! B.A.P.S---Beware of Asinine Picture that Stinks!!!
Frank rates this film: * star
E-mail: qnfr98a@prodigy.com Website: http://www.vgt.com/atmovies.html
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